Homemade Locks

[leirda.livejournal.com]

So I've always liked the idea of having those journals that lock.  Even if I know my journal is safe I have this emotional connection with the idea of locks...it's like...this is MY journal, with MY secrets, and MY thoughts, and there is something vibrant about the idea that only *I* have the key to get into my thoughts.

For the past 10 journals or so I haven't used a lock and key type of journal because the format of journal that I like doesn't usually come with a lock (I like large format journals, in fact I used spiral bounds for a long time and now just found 8x11 hardback bookbound journals).  But if there was a way to MAKE a lock (maybe one I could transfer from journal to journal) this would be amazing!

Would anyone know how I would do this?  My journal is a standard paper sized journal (8.5 x 11.5 I think?) and it's a bound hardback.  The only thing I can think of is to make an accessory that goes around the journal (like a case) that locks so that I don't have to destroy the original covers (just in case I mess up), or something like a journal belt, or something like that!  Something that I could fit onto different sized journals if need be.  The only thing about the journal belt idea is that I would have to make it in a way where it couldn't easily be slipped off.  Ideas?  Thoughts? Help!?